Beckett, Samuel (1956) ‘Waiting for Godot’, UK first edition with original handwritten and signed letter

Beckett, Samuel (1956) Waiting for Godot. UK first edition, first printing, published by Faber and Faber. Together with a handwritten and signed Beckett letter on Beckett’s personal stationary card.

Condition of the book: in very good condition and complete with the Publisher’s Note between the two copyright pages. Internally clean without any comments written or underlinings in the text. The mustard colour boards are generally clean with slight shelf wear and some dustiness to the top. A few foxing spots to page block, pastedowns/ endpapers and prelims. Typical ghosting to endpapers. The first state dust jacket shows some rubbing to the edges and has a tear on th efront flap. Small chips to edges.

The letter: original hadnwritten small letter on Beckett’s personal stationary card, dated Paris 24 July 1984. Written in French Beckett’s charismatic hand. In the note the author mourns the death of a friend and expresses his condolences.

Waiting for Godot is the most significant play of the 20^th century which premiered in the English language in London in 1955. It was originally written in French and premiered in Paris in 1953. The story of Vladimir and Estragon who endlessly wait for someone called Godot is iconic, and many interpretations (existential, theological, Freudian, Jungian, political etc.) have surrounded the play.

Beckett received the Nobel Prize in literature in 1969.